ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions local authorities refused requests for third party disclosure made by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2012-13.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of third party disclosure requests or the number which are subsequently refused. To provide this information would require a manual search of files incurring a disproportionate cost.

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Attorney-General how many senior civil servants left the Law Officers' Departments and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was.

Oliver Heald: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			 Department 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Total cost of severance payments (£) 
			 TSol(1) (2)— (2)— 8 1,435,043 
			 CPS 11 (2)— (2)— 1,542,816 
			 SFO 0 0 3 (3)— 
			 (1) TSol data also covers the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. (2) Fewer than five individuals. The exact numbers have not been disclosed as this could potentially identify the individuals involved and so breach staff confidentiality. (3) Another individual who was operating at SCS level on a fixed term contract also left the SFO and received a redundancy payment. The details of the exit terms for all four individuals were contained in a written ministerial statement dated 4 December 2012, Official Report, columns 51-52WS.

CABINET OFFICE

Big Society Network

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the quality of work delivered by the Big Society Network or its subsidiary charity following receipt of funding for which his Department is responsible in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; if he will publish such assessments; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 19 June 2013, Official Report, column 739W, and 25 June 2013, Official Report, column 224W.
	The Cabinet Office will continue to evaluate Society Network Foundation's performance in relation to the Big Society Awards although, as with all grant recipients, there are no plans to publish this grant management information.

Big Society Network

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  whether the Big Society Network received assistance from his officials in completing applications for (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Big Lottery Fund funding in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what complaints he has received from (a) his officials, (b) the staff, (c) charities and (d) others on working with the Big Society Network or its subsidiary charity; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: No assistance from Cabinet Office officials was given to the Big Society Network in completing applications for (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Big Lottery funding in 2010-11, 2011-12 and in 2012-13.
	I have received one complaint about Big Society Network in relation to their application to the Social Action Fund.

Civil Servants: Pensions

John Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidelines are given to Departments on the size of pension pots for civil servants; what the average pension pot for civil servants is; what the highest current pension pot is; and whether there is a limit on the size of such pots.

Chloe Smith: Pensions for civil servants are provided under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). The PCSPS is a defined benefit scheme and the rules (which can be found at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions/governance-and-rules
	and in the Library of the House) provide the method of calculating benefits and the limits applying to them. The rules provide for an individual's benefits to be calculated and limited by reference to their pensionable earnings and their length of service, but the precise details depend on which section of the scheme they are a member of.
	The Employers' Pension Guide—which can be found at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions/guidance-for-employers
	provides guidance to Departments on their responsibilities in relation to pensions and what flexibilities exist to provide benefits over those provided as standard under the PCSPS.
	We do not hold details of the average current value of the pensions built up by individual active PCSPS members (of which the latest published figure is 523,000—‘Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation Accounts 2011/12, HC600’). However, this information is provided in respect of selected senior staff in individual departmental Resource Accounts, copies of which are in the Library of the House.
	The Government has agreed reforms to pension arrangements across the public sector. This makes for a fairer balance between what employees pay and what other taxpayers have to pay.

Corruption

Tony Baldry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the remit of the right hon. Member for Rushcliffe as anti-corruption champion has been extended to cover domestic as well as international corruption.

Kenneth Clarke: Yes.

Fertility

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the fertility rate was in (a) England, (b) each region of England and (c) each local authority area in each year since 2001.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on what the fertility rate was in (a) England, (b) each region of England and (c) each local authority areas in each year since 2001 [163341].
	The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the most useful measure of an area's fertility level. The TFR is the average number of live children that a group of women would each bear if they experienced the age-specific fertility rates of the calendar year in question throughout their childbearing lifespan.
	ONS publishes TFRs by area of usual residence for regions and local authorities in England and Wales. Birth statistics are produced to boundaries in place during the year the birth occurred. This approach means that changes in boundaries can affect the comparability of statistics over time.
	Published tables for 2001-2011 have been collated in the spreadsheet.
	Fertility rates for 2001-2007 were published in Key Population and Vital Statistics publication available at
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/kpvs/key-population-and-vital-statistics/index.html
	Figures for 2001 are available in table 4.2 while figures for 2002-2008 are available in table 4.1a.
	Fertility rates for 2008-2011 are published in table 4 at:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/birth-summary-tables--england-and-wales/index.html
	Figures for 2012 will be published on 10 July 2013.
	Total fertility rates for 2011 have been calculated using mid-2011 population estimates based on the 2011 Census. Total fertility rates for 2001-2010 use mid-year population estimates based on the 2001 Census. Consequently rates for 2002-2010 do not take account of population estimate revisions which have taken place since publication.
	A copy of the tables will be placed in the Library of the House.

Government Departments: Procurement

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued to the Royal Parks Agency on the degree to which human rights-related matters can be taken into account when considering potential bidders for contracts;
	(2)  if he will issue guidance to non-departmental bodies and agencies on the scope for taking human rights-related matters into account when selecting contractors.

Chloe Smith: The Public Contracts Regulations 2006 set out the procedures to be followed by public authorities when they wish to procure goods, works and services. These include mechanisms by which a company may be excluded from a tender exercise, for example where a company has been convicted of a criminal offence in connection with their business or profession, or has committed an act of grave professional misconduct in the course of their business or profession. It is for individual contracting authorities to assess whether there are human-rights related issues that apply to a specific bidder.

Northcote House

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department used the facilities at Northcote House, Sunningdale Park, Berkshire in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 July 2013, Official Report, column 100W.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Food

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what proportion of all food procured for the Church Commissioners was sourced from (a) British producers, (b) small and medium-sized enterprises and (c) producers which met British buying standards in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tony Baldry: The Church Commissioners do not purchase food centrally; each department of the National Church Institutions are responsible for their own sourcing and procurement of food for meetings and events in line with the Church of England’s procurement policies. It is not therefore possible to say precisely what proportion of food procured was sourced from (a) British producers, (b) small and medium-sized enterprises and (c) producers which met British buying standards.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people in his Department were employed on zero hours contracts in each of the last three years.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 8 July 2013
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 2 July 2013, Official Report, column 535W.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on external lawyers' fees in the last year for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: My Department spent £771,643 on external lawyers' fees in the year 2012-13. This figure does not include fees paid by the Department to external providers paid via Treasury Solicitors and to extract that figure would be at disproportionate cost.
	This figure fluctuates from year to year. Comparable figures for previous years are £555,969 in 2011-12, £1,133,722 in 2010-11 and £1,701,053 in 2009-10.
	In an increasingly litigious age, and with the added complexities of EU law, obtaining expert legal opinion can represent value for money for the taxpayer by avoiding unnecessary or spurious legal challenges.

Local Government: Pay

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the annual pay settlement for local government workers has been since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 9 July 2013, Official Report, columns 193-4W.

Non-domestic Rates

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the recommendations of the Portas Review, what progress he has made on encouraging local authorities to use their discretionary powers to give business rate concessions.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 July 2013, Official Report, column 36W.

Rents: Arrears

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of any change in the level of rent arrears owed to housing associations and local authorities since the introduction of the under-occupancy penalty; and if he will publish statistics on that matter.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 5 July 2013
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 July 2013, Official Report, columns 193-94W.

Rents: Arrears

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many local authorities in England and Wales have informed his Department that their housing rent arrears have increased following the introduction of the under-occupancy penalty;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of trends in social housing rent arrears since the introduction of the under-occupancy penalty in April 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 9 July 2013, Official Report, column 194W.

Sick Leave

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many days on average staff of his Department in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in each of the last 12 months.

Brandon Lewis: Figures are calculated quarterly. The most recent figures for working days lost in the Department per member of staff are as follows:
	
		
			 Grade 12 months to March 2013(1) 
			 Administrative Assistant/Officer(2) 14.3 
			 Executive Officer 9.2 
			 Higher Executive Officer 6.7 
			 Senior Executive Officer 5.9 
			 Grade 7 4.4 
			 Grade 6 3.1 
			 Senior Civil Service 2.8 
			 Average Working Days Lost 6.3 
			 (1) provisional subject to Cabinet Office approval. (2) Only one Administrative Assistant was employed in the period and as such the Administrative Assistant and Officer grades have been amalgamated in order to protect individual identity. 
		
	
	To place this in context, the Department's average absence rate of 6.3 days is lower than the civil service average of 7.7 days, and lower than private sector average of 7.8 days in organisations of an equivalent size to the Department (1,000 to 4,999 employees, as estimated in the most recent Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development annual survey).
	I also refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 15 April 2013, Official Report, columns 222-3W, on the steps we are taking to reduce such absence.

Visits Abroad

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on (a) which hotel at which rate, (b) flights of which class of travel, (c) entertainment at which venue, (d) food and drink at which venue and (e) any other category of spend during Baroness Warsi's trip to Rome for the Pope's inauguration.

Brandon Lewis: Details and costs, of Ministers' overseas travel are published on a quarterly basis on the Department's website. Details of the Senior Minister for Faith and Communities' visit representing Her Majesty's Government will be published in due course.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Coventry City Football Club

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what representations she has received on the future of the Ricoh Arena in Coventry;
	(2)  what representations she has received on the future of Coventry City Football Club.

Hugh Robertson: A Westminster Hall Debate, on 12 March 2013, discussed the future of Coventry City Football Club and the Ricoh Arena. I have subsequently received correspondence from the hon. Member, and the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth). I have also noted EDM 369 on the future of Coventry City Football Club.

Coventry City Football Club

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will convene a meeting with representatives from Coventry City Football Club, the owners of the Ricoh Arena (Arena Coventry Ltd (ACL)), Coventry city council and the Football League to negotiate an interim agreement such that Coventry can play in the Ricoh Arena in Coventry next season.

Hugh Robertson: I am happy to offer my support for the efforts of the hon. Member, and others, to secure the return of the Coventry City Football Club ground to the city. While the Football League have now accommodated proposals that permit Coventry City FC's participation in the 2013-14 season, I urge the relevant parties to develop a plan that delivers a return to Coventry, as soon as possible.

DEFENCE

Devolution

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library any concordats which his Department or the public bodies for which he is responsible have with the devolved administrations.

Andrew Robathan: The Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements, agreed in September 2012, set out principles which underlie the relationship between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These documents are available in the Library of the House.
	The Ministry of Defence in addition has agreed concordats for the handling of procedural, practical or policy matters with counterparts in the devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Copies of the documents have been placed in the Library of the House.

Libya

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel have been involved in training programmes in Libya over the last year.

Andrew Murrison: Over the last year, the Ministry of Defence's assistance to Libya has been focused on providing high level advice on defence reform through the Defence Advisory Team in Tripoli.
	The only training that has taken place in Libya is an advanced English language training course to prepare junior officers from the Libyan armed forces to come to the UK for initial officer training. This was delivered by two UK military instructors from the Defence School of Languages over 12 weeks early in 2013.

Libya

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the amount that will be received from the Libyan government for training of Libyan armed forces personnel in the UK.

Andrew Murrison: A firm estimate of the costs of this training will be produced once further detailed planning has been conducted. Costs will be met by the Libyan Government.

Reserve Forces

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits were attached to each of the (a) 35 Territorial Army centres and (b) three Naval Reserve centres identified for closure in each of the last five years; how many new recruits enlisted at each such centre in each such year; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Murrison: The requested information will take some time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member.

Reserve Forces: Cardiff

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many reservists from Cardiff South and Penarth constituency currently attend HMS Cambria; and how many of these will be expected to relocate to the proposed new Naval Reserve base in Cardiff;
	(2)  pursuant to his written statement of 4 July 2013, Official Report, column 61WS, on reserve basing statement clarification, when he intends to write to the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth on the proposed new Naval Reserve base in Cardiff and the effect of his announced changes on HMS Cambria;
	(3)  pursuant to his Written Statement of 3 July 2013, Official Report, column 49WS, on army reserve (structure and basing), what discussions he has had with Cardiff County Council on the siting of any new Naval Reserve facility;
	(4)  what plans he has for Naval Reserve facilities in (a) Cardiff County, (b) Vale of Glamorgan County and (c) Wales.

Andrew Murrison: As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), set out in his answer to the hon. Member on 3 July 2013, Official Report, column 941, and, as confirmed in his written statement of 4 July 2013, Official Report, column 61WS, there will be a Royal Naval Reserve presence at Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, and in Cardiff.
	The number of personnel from the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency based at HMS Cambria is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is too early to be able to estimate accurately the number of Reservists currently based at HMS Cambria who may relocate to the new location in Cardiff. No discussions have taken place with Cardiff county council to date as the Navy Command Future Reserves team is currently considering a number of options.
	In addition to the presence at Barry and Cardiff there will also be a small sub-unit of HMS Cambria (Tawe Division) in Swansea.

Reserve Forces: Wales

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the geographic extent is of the recruitment area of each reserve force base in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Murrison: There is no specific geographic extent of the recruitment area for each reserve force base in Wales.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

General Elections

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he intends to bring into force the provisions on lengthened timetables for general elections enacted in the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013;
	(2)  whether he plans to bring forward legislative or regulatory proposals on the use of postal votes;
	(3)  whether he has received any representations on the commencement of provisions to lengthen the timetable for a general election to the UK Parliament contained in the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 since the passage of this Act.

Chloe Smith: holding answer 11 July 2013
	The Government intends to bring into force the provisions in the Electoral Registration and Administration (ERA) Act 2013 that extend the timetable for UK parliamentary elections, including by-elections, at the time of the scheduled polls in 2014. We also intended to bring forward legislative proposals on the use of postal votes that flow from the ERA Act at this time.
	Among other benefits, this measure will make it easier for overseas voters, including service voters to exercise their democratic right to vote by lengthening the timetable for elections. In general, it will ease pressure for both electoral administrators and postal voters.
	The Government has not received any formal representations on the commencement of provisions to lengthen the timetable for UK parliamentary elections since the passage of this Act, though this issue has been discussed with relevant stakeholders at scheduled working groups.

Urban Areas

Guy Opperman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had on Wave 2 City Deals.

Nicholas Clegg: I meet regularly with ministerial colleagues to discuss Wave 2 City Deals, including at the new Local Growth Committee which I Chair. I also recently held a roundtable with representatives from all Wave 2 City Deals to discuss progress.

EDUCATION

Education: Qualifications

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department plans to take to improve awareness of the Access to Higher Education Diploma.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma courses play an important part in giving some students, such as adults who left school early or have been out of education for a number of years, a second chance to enter higher education. The White Paper, ‘Higher Education: Students at the heart of the system’ acknowledged the role of these courses and noted that interest in them has increased in recent years. Applications to universities from Access to HE students increased last year to over 32,000 and in July last year the Government announced an offer to individuals taking Access to Higher Education courses that on completion of their higher education programme, the Student Loans Company will write off the amount outstanding on the loan for their Access course.
	The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education is responsible for managing the Access to Higher Education Diploma scheme and has recently re-launched its website with a stronger student focus. From there, students can discover more about the Access to HE Diploma, find out how to choose a course and how to apply, hear from former Access to HE students about their experiences and get advice on what to do on completion of the qualification. QAA will develop the course search facility further to provide fuller information about different courses.
	QAA has developed a communications strategy to raise awareness of the wide variety of Access to HE courses that can be studied. It will involve increased media coverage, using case studies of successful students from diverse backgrounds, carrying out research into online forums and communities used by potential Access to HE students, and a variety of marketing materials such as short films and animations to spread information about Access to HE online. In addition a HE admissions fair will be held exclusively for Access to HE students this autumn. QAA also recently launched the first ever Access to HE Awards scheme, celebrating successful students around the UK.
	Most Access to HE courses are delivered through Further Education Colleges and promotion of what is available will be undertaken by them locally. The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to adults on all the choices available to them when they are considering their career or learning options. Where higher education is one of those options, advisers will ensure the individual is aware of all the pathways that are appropriate to them, including the Access to Higher Education Diploma.

Schools: Sports

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to encourage lawn tennis in schools. [R]

Edward Timpson: The Government is keen to put competitive sport, including tennis, at the heart of school life and this is reflected in our new curriculum for PE. Schools will be expected to provide competitive sport for their pupils and are free to choose tennis—among other sports—to fulfil that requirement.
	We are providing additional ring-fenced funding of £150 million per annum direct to primary schools to boost PE and sport for academic years 2013/14 and 2014/15. In addition, the Government's Youth Sport Strategy, launched in January 2012, is providing £1 billion of funding over the five years 2012-13 to 2016-17 to help to ensure that young people are regularly playing sport, including tennis.
	The Department has placed a substantial amount of material onto its website to help primary school head teachers to make the best use of their additional funding. This material is available through the following link:
	https://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/primary
	and provides case studies from effective schools, 'what works' evidence and information about programmes and support provided by a range of sports bodies. This includes information from the Lawn Tennis Association about its educational support programme.

Young People: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of young people aged (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years living in (i) York and (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber were in (A) full-time education and (B) full-time education, employment or training in December 2012.

Matthew Hancock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 July 2013, Official Report, columns 380-82W.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Accountancy

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on contracts with (a) Deloitte, (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (c) KPMG and (d) Ernst and Young in each year since 2008.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change's expenditure with (a) Deloitte, (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (c) KPMG and (d) Ernst and Young since 2008 is set out in the following table. DECC did not come into being until October 2008 therefore the figures for the financial year 2008-09 are for six months only.
	
		
			 £000 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Deloitte — 453 188 1,401 2,519 
			 Ernst and Young 301 799 434 2,214 1,277 
			 KPMG 21 1,073 816 228 2,955 
			 PWC 1,615 819 28 206 1,511

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what incentives the Government is providing for employers to take on Green Deal apprentices.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 11 July 2013
	The Government is not providing specific incentives for employers to take on Green Deal apprentices. DECC provided £3 million of funding to target support for training programmes in sectors where we know there are skills gaps, to ensure there is sufficient delivery capacity in key areas.

Green Deal Scheme: Staffordshire

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) Cannock Chase constituency and (b) Staffordshire have applied for assessments under the Green Deal in the last 12 months.

Gregory Barker: Up to 31 March 2013 there were 132 Green Deal Assessments in Staffordshire of which 16 Green Deal Assessments were in the Cannock Chase constituency.
	The number of Green Deal Assessments lodged by administrative area up to 31 March is available in Table 1 of the first Green Deal and ECO quarterly Official Statistics release:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/208912/GD_Statistics_-_Q1_2013.xlsx
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to parliamentary question UIN 163398, on 5 July 2013, Official Report, column 823W, which referred to a table placed in the Libraries of the House showing the number of Green Deal Assessments by parliamentary constituency up to 31 March 2013.
	Numbers of assessments by local authority and by parliamentary constituency, up to 30 June 2013, will be included in the next quarterly Green Deal/ECO statistical release which is planned for publication on 19 September.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Antibiotics

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department issues to farmers relating to the prophylactic use of antibiotics in (a) poultry farming and (b) all other types of farming.

David Heath: DEFRA, through the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), is working closely with the veterinary profession to continue to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance in order that veterinarians are fully informed to make responsible decisions when prescribing antimicrobials.
	All veterinary medicines, including those containing antibiotics, require authorisation before they may be marketed or administered to animals. As part of the authorisation process a Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) document is agreed for each product, which contains detailed information on how to use the medicinal product safely and effectively. Guidelines on the content of SPCs for antimicrobial products have been issued by the European Medicines Agency Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Product, (CVMP), which include the requirement to provide specific warnings regarding responsible use, in order to minimise the development of resistance. This information is required to be included in the literature or packaging of each medicine, so it is immediately available to both vets and animal keepers at point of use.
	The VMD has produced an information leaflet for veterinary surgeons on antibiotic resistance and responsible use of antimicrobials. The VMD does not provide detailed antibiotic prescribing guidance, since it considers that relevant experts in the veterinary profession are best placed to design species specific guidelines.
	The VMD works closely with the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture alliance (RUMA), which has formulated comprehensive guidelines for the responsible use of antimicrobials in the various livestock production sectors, including poultry. RUMA has also published a position statement, noting that preventative use of antibiotics must not be applied systematically or routinely.
	The British Veterinary Association has produced a poster for veterinary surgeons which clearly summarises the key overall responsible use messages, including the need to use preventative approaches to reduce disease, and the requirement to minimise prophylactic use of antibiotics.

Common Agricultural Policy

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Common Agricultural Policy funding support has been received by British farmers and agricultural companies as (a) direct payments and (b) rural development funding (i) in total for the UK since 2007, (ii) in total for the UK in each year since 2007, (iii) in total in each NUTS 1 region since 2007 and (iv) in total in each NUTS 1 region in each year since 2007.

David Heath: Data on common agricultural policy (CAP) funding for direct payments and rural development is currently not available for NUTS 1 regions. Payments for the UK are listed in the following table. This information is published in the statistical release Agriculture in the UK (AUK).
	
		
			 All CAP payments by funding stream 2007-12; United Kingdom 
			 € million 
			  EU financial years(1) 
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Pillar 1 4,144 3,414 3,554 3,424 3,309 3,348 
			 of which:       
			 Direct Aids 3,833 3,341 3,316 3,325 3,304 3,290 
			 Market price support(2) 311 73 238 99 5 58 
			        
			 Pillar 2(3) 370 712 699 913 1,018 1,085 
			 of which:       
			 EAFRD(4) 199 324 347 512 653 742 
		
	
	
		
			 Co-financing 171 388 352 401 365 343 
			        
			 Total CAP 4,514 .4,126 4,253 4,337 4,327 4,433 
			 (1) Information based on EU financial year 16 October to 15 October. Figures exclude financial corrections/penalties. (2) Market price support covers interventions in agricultural markets, e.g. public intervention and private storage aid. (3) Pillar 2 funds rural development, e.g. for agri-environment schemes, competitiveness of agriculture and economic diversification and quality of life in rural areas. (4 )EAFRD is the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Member states are required to co-finance these receipts with a contribution from their exchequer. Figures are based on in-year quarterly returns, rather than the annual account (in order to provide the split between EAFRD and co-financing).

Food: Low Incomes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research the Government is undertaking into food poverty.

David Heath: DEFRA has commissioned research to review evidence on the landscape of food aid provision and access. The work comprises a short research project assessing evidence already publically available on the provision of food aid in the UK. Once completed the conclusions of this work will be made available on the Government's website.

Food: Low Incomes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if he will publish the most recent figures available on people in food poverty;
	(2)  how much his Department is spending to tackle food poverty.

David Heath: The factors that impact on household food security are complex and include economic, social and environmental influences. A single measure of “food poverty” would not be able to reflect the multi-faceted aspects of this issue. There is no agreed way of measuring food poverty, and the Government has no plans to conduct such a measurement.
	DEFRA actively monitors retail food prices and their impact on household expenditure through its Family Food Survey which is published annually. The latest available data are for 2011.
	On average in 2011, food accounted for 11.3% of all household expenditure, an increase from 10.5% in 2007. For low income households (the bottom 20%) expenditure on food accounted for 16.6% of all expenditure in 2011. This was 15.2% in 2007 but has remained relatively stable since a high of 16.8% in 2008.
	DEFRA does not direct funding specifically to tackle food poverty. We do however believe strongly in playing our part in tackling food security both globally and domestically. We work hard to promote transparent, open global markets and a competitive domestic market to help producers and retailers offer the best prices to consumers.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Benny Gantz

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what consideration he gave to the special mission by Lieutenant General Benny Gantz of the Israeli Defence Forces in June and July 2013;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on Lieutenant General Benny Gantz's official engagements in the UK and their purpose.

Alistair Burt: I agreed on 26 June that the official visit by the Chief of General Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Gantz, to the UK constituted a special mission. During his visit on 2-3 July Lieutenant General Gantz met with the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, and had other official meetings at the Ministry of Defence.

Burma

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances Ministers of his Department will seek during meetings with President Thein Sein regarding the treatment of the Rohingya Muslim community within Burma.

William Hague: This visit will provide an opportunity to continue our dialogue with the Burmese Government: acknowledging positive progress on reform, while raising our concerns on Kachin and Rakhine States and the full range of human rights and ethnic issues including the release of remaining political prisoners. This will include requests for assurances on the treatment and status of the Rohingya.

Burma

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers of his Department will be present in meetings with President Thein Sein during his upcoming visit to the UK; and what the focus of each of the scheduled meetings is likely to be.

William Hague: President Thein Sein will visit the UK as a guest of the British Government on 15 and 16 July. I will meet the President, as will the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the. Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), and the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend the right hon. Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint.
	This visit will be a significant opportunity to continue our dialogue with the Burmese Government: acknowledging positive progress on reform, while raising our concerns on Kachin and Rakhine States and the full range of human rights and ethnic issues including the release of remaining political prisoners. We will raise development issues and Burma's economy, including the role that responsible trade and investment can play in lifting the Burmese people out of poverty. We will discuss defence engagement, including the importance of the military's adherence to democratic values and human rights. Human rights will remain at the heart of our engagement with the Burmese Government, as it continues to implement political and economic reforms.

Consultants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much (a) he and (b) officials in his Department spent on external assistance to prepare for (i) appearances before select committees and (ii) contact with the media in (A) 2011-12 and (B) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has spent no money on external providers to prepare Ministers or officials for appearances before Select Committees.
	The FCO provides generic media training for those of its staff who have public roles, such as press officers and ambassadors posted abroad, some of which is supplied by external providers. Generic training is also available for Ministers. The FCO has spent no money on external providers to prepare for specific media appearances.

Cyprus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects on (a) security and sovereignty of UK sovereign base areas and (b) relations between the two Cypriot communities of the Cypriot parliament's approval of regulations allowing for the declaration of security zones in areas it claims as its exclusive economic zone.

David Lidington: The UK exercises full sovereignty over the sovereign base areas in Cyprus, including their territorial waters and airspace. The regulations to which my hon. Friend refers do not affect this. The Republic of Cyprus has the sovereign right to explore and develop its maritime zones and we hope that this can be done in a way that builds trust between the two communities.

Cyprus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) the government of the Republic of Cyprus and (b) the European Commission on the killing of migratory bird species on Cyprus.

David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has not made representations to the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the European Commission on the killing of migratory birds in Cyprus. However, the UK sovereign base areas (SBAs) on Cyprus are covered by the Bern convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats and adhere to its provisions. For our part, the sovereign base area police have for a number of years put considerable effort into anti-poaching measures and recently there has been an especially robust campaign including the expansion of anti-poaching patrols. The SBA police also work in close co-operation with the Cyprus Game and Fauna Service. We intend to continue to work with the Republic of Cyprus to bring an end to this unpleasant and outlawed practice.

Doron Almog

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  on what date he gave his consent of special mission to Mr Doron Almog in June 2013; when he gave such consent; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli ambassador to the UK on the cancellation of a visit by Doron Almog; and if this visit has been rescheduled.

Alistair Burt: I agreed on 24 June that the scheduled official visit to London of Doron Almog; Prime Minister Netanyahu's Chief of Staff for Bedouin Status improvement, constituted a special mission. This visit was subsequently cancelled and has not been rescheduled.

Immunity from Prosecution

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to refuse to consent to a special mission by a person who has been the subject of an arrest warrant;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the first four months of the pilot process for the Government granting consent to special missions; how many such requests have been made seeking express consent; from which country have requests have been (a) granted and (b) not granted; whether any requests remain outstanding; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will make it his policy to publish all decisions to consent or not to consent to special mission as they are made.

Alistair Burt: I refer to the written statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House on 4 March 2013, Official Report, columns 55-56WS. The Secretary of State announced a new process by which we would be informed of visits that may qualify for special mission status. The pilot process has improved the process for communicating and decision making in respect of visits that may qualify for special mission status. Since the pilot's inception, we have received three such requests. There are no requests outstanding. In view of the confidentiality of diplomatic exchanges, we have no plans to publish decisions about special mission status as they are made. But if those applying for special mission status wish to announce the details of their visit to the UK, they are of course at liberty to do so. Each application for special mission status is considered carefully in view of both obligations incumbent upon the UK under customary international law, and our policy of ending impunity for the most serious of international crimes and a commitment to the protection of human rights. Above this, it is for the courts to decide on the legal consequences of any decision to grant special mission status.

Immunity from Prosecution

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the allegations of war crimes committed by the Israeli Defence forces during Operation Pillar of Defense; and what consideration he gave to such allegations when considering an application for special mission by Lieutenant General Benny Gantz.

Alistair Burt: During the Gaza conflict in November 2012, we urged all sides to abide by international humanitarian law and to avoid civilian casualties. There is some evidence that the Israeli Defence Force exercised greater care in the selection of targets and to avoid non-combatant casualties than in previous such operations. However, based on various independent reports into the conflict, there remain important concerns over the proportionality of certain strikes, as well as the high loss of Palestinian civilian life during Operation Pillar of Defence.
	Lieutenant General Gantz visited the UK on official state business and, as such, his visit constituted a special mission.

Iran

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the case of Mohammed Roghangir, Surush Saraie, Eskandar Rezaie, Shahin Lahoodi and Massoud Rezaie who have been charged with offences arising out of their observation of their Christian faith in Iran.

Alistair Burt: The imprisonment by the Iranian authorities of these individuals for their beliefs is deplorable. Reports indicate that three of them were released on bail on 19 March and are currently awaiting trial. The plight of the remaining individuals is unclear. I have repeatedly and publicly expressed the UK's serious concern at the persecution of religious minorities in Iran, including the unjustified arrest and imprisonment of Christians. On 14 May, after formally receiving an interfaith letter on religious persecution in Iran, I issued a statement calling once again for Iran to end such persecution and release all those imprisoned on the basis of their faith.

Iran

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the sentence of eight years imprisonment imposed on Pastor Saeed Abedini by an Iranian court; and what recent representations he has made to Iran on this case and the need for religious toleration.

Alistair Burt: The sentencing of Pastor Abedini and his continuing imprisonment on the basis of his religion are deplorable. In my answer of 25 February 2013, Official Report, column 331W, I urged the Iranian Government to release him and to cease the shocking persecution of individuals based on their faith. On 14 May, after formally receiving an interfaith letter on religious persecution in Iran, I issued a statement calling once again for Iran to end such persecution and release all those imprisoned on the basis of their faith.

Libya

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where the planned training of the 2,000 Libyan armed forces personnel will take place.

Alistair Burt: As the written ministerial statement by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), on 9 July 2013, Official Report, column 8-9WS, states, under current plans the training will be conducted at Bassingbourn Barracks, Cambridgeshire.

Libya

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the security situation in Libya.

Alistair Burt: The Government is concerned by recent security incidents in Tripoli, Benghazi and elsewhere, including violence involving armed groups operating outside Government control and without respect for either Libyan or international law. Libya faces significant challenges as it seeks to overcome 42 years of dictatorship, including the integration of former revolutionary fighters into state structures. However, the Libyan Government has made clear its determination to tackle these issues.
	The continuing difficulty of the security environment, including the attack on the French embassy on 23 April, shows the urgency of supporting Libya at this time. The UK, along with our international partners, remains firmly committed to supporting the Libyan people, Government and Congress in facing these challenges. At the G8 Summit in Lough Erne, the United Kingdom, with some other G8 nations, offered to train more than 7,000 troops to help the Libyan Government disarm and integrate militias and improve security and stability. As part of this, the UK has offered to train up to 2,000 Libyan armed forces personnel in basic infantry skills. This assistance builds on the UK's existing and planned support to Libya including building accountable and human rights-compliant security and justice structures, creating transparent and effective financial management, strengthening private sector development and strengthening economic governance systems.

Occupied Territories

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many claims to Israeli preference have been refused by HM Revenue and Customs on grounds that proof of origin accompanying the goods shows that imports have been produced in an Israeli settlement in each of the last five years for which data is available; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The number of claims to Israeli preference that have been refused by HM Revenue and Customs on grounds that the proof of origin accompanying the goods demonstrates that imports have not been produced within Green Line Israel in each of the last five years are as follows:
	2008-09: 20 claims to Israeli preference rejected;
	2009-10: 26;
	2010-11: 73;
	2011-12: 92;
	2012-13: 217.

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many senior civil servants left his Department and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was.

Alistair Burt: Any voluntary exit scheme (VES) run by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is conducted in accordance with the Civil Service Compensation Scheme and with Cabinet Office approval. The figures for senior management staff (SMS) having been granted voluntary exit in the last three financial years are:
	
		
			 VES scheme year Number of SMS leaving Total cost (£) 
			 2010-11 0 0 
			 2011-12 10 1,613,355.40 
			 2012-13 10 1,476,552.50 
		
	
	The Executive agencies and arm’s length bodies (ALBs) of the FCO, namely: FCO Services; Wilton Park; Great Britain China Centre; Westminster Foundation for Democracy have not granted voluntary exit to any SCS staff in the same three year period.
	Details about the voluntary exit schemes are available in the FCO's annual report:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-and-commonwealth-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2012-13
	The voluntary exit schemes are part of our commitment to reduce our headcount as outlined under the spending review announcement 2010.

Sudan

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how his Department plans to assess the performance of the British Council's project in Sudan to train journalists working for Sudanese media and the extent to which the project has contributed towards promoting free speech in that country.

Mark Simmonds: The British embassy in Sudan is supporting a multi-year media capacity building project in Sudan, delivered through the British Council. The project aims to improve journalistic skills and standards, which we believe to be essential for the development of a more open and democratic society. It also works with print, radio and TV journalists and senior management from the full media spectrum. It will be assessed in line with standard project management procedures against its objective to contribute to a:
	"better skilled media which increases Sudanese media access and use of information that promotes peace and good governance".
	While it has only been running a short time, its positive impact is already evident in increasingly frank questions and reporting.

Sudan

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason his Department has reduced its Sudan unit by one member of staff; and what reports he has received about the recent upsurge of violence in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and continuing instability between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan.

Mark Simmonds: The reduction in size of the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development Sudan and South Sudan Unit follows an internal rebalancing of resources across a number of priority issues in Africa.
	We are greatly concerned at the continued conflict in Darfur, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. In Darfur we are urging all parties to allow full unhindered humanitarian access, and pressing the Government of Sudan to honour its commitments under the Doha peace agreement. In Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan we are pressing the Government of Sudan and Sudanese People's Liberation Movement-North to negotiate a cessation of hostilities, full humanitarian access and a political process to address the causes of the conflict.
	We are being clear to both Sudan and South Sudan that they must honour the agreements signed in Addis Ababa in September last year, and make progress on other issues not covered by those agreements, including Abyei. We continue to provide political, technical and financial support to the process mediated by the African Union.

Tanzania

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the murders of albino minorities in Tanzania.

Mark Simmonds: We have received reports of two murders of albinos in Tanzania since the beginning of this year. However, indications suggest that concerted action and awareness-raising by the Tanzanian Government, judiciary, civil society and others have resulted in a decline in killings in recent years. The British Government has funded an educational film to change perceptions of albinism in rural Tanzania, which has had a positive impact.

Turkey

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the criteria are for the review of extant export licences to Turkey; when that review will be complete; if he will place a copy of that review in the Library; if he will make it his policy to indefinitely withhold licences for any such equipment that could be used against protestors; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, in light of the prevailing circumstances. We have completed a review of all existing export licences for Turkey in the light of recent events and assessed that none would contravene the criteria. Hence no licences have been revoked. The review found one Open Licence which could have allowed the export of crowd control ammunition. Although the exporter concerned does not deal in such goods, and has never exported crowd control ammunition, we have nevertheless amended the licence to prevent this possibility.
	This was an internal Government review that will not be published. However, the Government publishes details of its export licensing decisions on a quarterly basis, and responds to questions from the Committees on Arms Export Controls based on these data.
	We continue to monitor the situation in Turkey carefully and will factor developments into our licensing decisions. We will not issue an export licence where we judge there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression.

HEALTH

Accidents: Databases

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to collect (a) data on fatal accidents caused by looped blind cords and (b) other accident and injury data;
	(2)  what his policy is on the proposal to create an EU-wide accident and injury database;
	(3)  what steps his Department have taken to reinstate a UK-wide accident and injury database;

Anna Soubry: Data on all in-patient admissions to national health service hospitals in England, including following an accident or injury, is produced by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) system. Admissions following an accident or injury can be identified in HES using the ICD10 coding system. This admitted patient care data only covers accidents and injuries serious enough to warrant admission to hospital as an inpatient. Data on attendances at NHS accident and emergency (A&E) departments in England, including those following an accident or injury, is also collected as part of the HES system dataset. However, the A&E information is less detailed than that collected for hospital inpatients, and there are issues with the quality of the data.
	The European Union Recommendation on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion supports improved data information and surveillance. The Department has been in discussion with the devolved Administrations on what steps can be taken to improve data collection and to progress the project on the Joint Action on Monitoring Injuries in Europe (JAMIE), funded through the EU Health Programme. There is United Kingdom involvement in the project which looks to improve data collection on accidental injury within the UK and contribute to the EU Injury Database.
	Public Health England has established a national Surveillance Strategy Committee to consider the public health justification and scientific case for new surveillance systems for England, so will be considering surveillance of accidents as an early priority. The devolved Administrations have also looked at their injury surveillance systems, as part of consideration for the JAMIE project.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the primary care resource per capita for each clinical commissioning group in England is.

Daniel Poulter: The commissioning of primary care services is a responsibility of NHS England and we have been advised by NHS England that primary care services are commissioned by NHS England on an area team basis. A summary of the budgeted spend per head by area team is as follows. Since services are commissioned at the level of area teams, this information is not available by clinical commissioning group.
	
		
			 NHS England Directly Commissioned Primary Care 
			 Code Area/region Average per head analysis by area team(£/Head) 
			 Y54 North  
			 Q44 Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral 216.87 
			 Q45 Durham, Darlington and Tees 237.07 
			 Q46 Greater Manchester 232.52 
			 Q47 Lancashire 221.52 
			 Q48 Merseyside 241.04 
			 Q49 Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 219.50 
			 Q50 North Yorkshire and The Humber 222.01 
			 Q51 South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw 223.76 
			 Q52 West Yorkshire 220.84 
			    
			 Y55 Midlands and East  
			 Q53 Arden, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 202.18 
			 Q54 Birmingham and the Black Country 213.02 
			 Q55 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire 205.73 
			 Q56 East Anglia 220.05 
			 Q57 Essex 197.48 
			 Q58 Hertfordshire and the South Midlands 193.16 
			 Q59 Leicestershire and Lincolnshire 210.70 
			 Q60 Shropshire and Staffordshire 206.09 
			    
			 Y56 London  
			 Q71 London 211.50 
			    
			 Y57 South  
			 Q64 Bath, Gloucester, Swindon and Wiltshire 185.12 
			 Q65 Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucestershire 203.78 
			 Q66 Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 217.04 
			 Q67 Kent and Medway 192.19 
			 Q68 Surrey and Sussex 193.13 
			 Q69 Thames Valley 181.64 
			 Q70 Wessex 188.37 
			 Note: Based on 2013-14 full-year plan as a Month 2 Commissioned at NHS England Area Team Level.

General Practitioners

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department provides to GPs to improve the access of patients to see a specified doctor.

Daniel Poulter: The NHS Constitution gives patients the right to choose their general practitioner (GP) practice and to be accepted, unless there are reasonable grounds to refuse. Patients also have the right to express a preference for using a particular GP within the practice and for the practice to try to comply.
	This is supported in the contracts between practices and NHS England for the provision of national health service primary medical services. These contracting arrangements require GP practices to notify patients of their right to express a preference to receive services from a particular GP either generally or in relation to any particular condition.
	The practice is required to endeavour to comply with any reasonable preference expressed by the patient but need not do so where the GP of choice has reasonable grounds for refusing to provide services to the patient, or does not routinely perform the services in question within the practice.

Lyme Disease

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) Wiltshire and (b) England were reported as having Lyme disease in each of the last three years; and what the incidence rate was of this disease.

Anna Soubry: The total number of cases of laboratory confirmed Lyme disease in England and Wales is as follows. England and Wales are taken as a single unit for epidemiological purposes as are counties which comprise the south-west of England. Since very little patient information is sent with referrals, only a broad designation of cases as south-west region is possible. Data for 2012 are still being compiled. A significant number of cases are acquired abroad so the rate for indigenous disease refers to those acquired in the United Kingdom.
	
		
			 Table 1: Lyme borreliosis, 2010 
			 Region Total reports Rate (per 100,000) Indigenous reports Percentage indigenous reports Rate (per 100,000) (indigenous cases) 
			 South West 264 5 238 32.1 4.51 
			 England and Wales 905 1.64 741 100.0 1.34 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Lyme borreliosis, 2011 
			 Region Total reports Rate (per 100,000) Overseas acquired (%) Indigenous reports Percentage indigenous reports Rate (per 100,000) (indigenous cases) 
			 South West 265 5.0 23 (9) 242 31.8 4.58 
			 England and Wales 959 1.73 197 (21) 762 100.0 1.38 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Lyme borreliosis, 2012(1) 
			 Region Total reports Rate (per 100,000) Overseas acquired (%) Indigenous reports % indigenous reports Rate (per 100,000) (indigenous cases) 
			 South West 205 3.88 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 England and Wales 1,040 1.67 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 1 Further analysis of data for 2012 in progress and will be available later in 2013.

Mental Health Services

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS has spent on treatment given by unregulated counsellors and psychotherapists in the (a) private and (b) public sector following referrals by GPs in each of the last five years; and how many people have been referred by GPs to such counsellors and psychotherapists in the (i) private and (ii) public sector in each such year.

Anna Soubry: This information is not collected.

NHS: ICT

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library all the material prepared for officials in his Department by external consultants ahead of the Public Accounts Committee hearing on the National Programme for IT on 20 June 2013;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library all material prepared by officials of his Department for witnesses from his Department in advance of the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on the National Programme for IT on 20 June 2013.

Daniel Poulter: We do not intend to place the briefing documents in the Library as they contain information relating to internal discussion and advice that is not normally disclosed.

Patients: Television

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average charge to hospitals by the supplier for the provision of televisions to patients is.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold information on the average charge to hospitals by the suppliers for the provision of televisions to patients.
	The suppliers set their own prices for the bedside television and telephone services and agree them with the national health service trust to which they are contracted.
	The suppliers offer a number of packages with varying costs.
	The Department cannot instruct private companies what to charge for these services.

School Milk

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the cost to the public purse has been of undertaking the consultation into the administration of the Nursery Milk Scheme;
	(2)  with reference to the Government response to the consultation on the future administration of the Nursery Milk Scheme, whether childcare settings providing milk under the Nursery Milk Scheme will continue to be able to have the choice to source their milk locally if they wish to;
	(3)  with reference to the Government response to the consultation on the future administration of the Nursery Milk Scheme, whether every child who is entitled to free milk under the scheme will continue to receive their entitlement.

Daniel Poulter: The Department is currently considering the way forward on the future of the Nursery Milk Scheme. It is therefore not yet possible to provide an accurate assessment of the full cost associated with the consultation process.
	In considering the future operation of the Nursery Milk Scheme, the Department is taking into account the preference of childcare providers for sourcing their milk. Our intention is to continue the Nursery Milk Scheme as a universal benefit—so that all eligible children under five attending a child care setting for more than two hours a day continue to be entitled to receive free milk.

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior civil servants left his Department and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was.

Daniel Poulter: The following table shows the number and total costs of senior civil servant (SCS) voluntary exits (non-compulsory departures) from the Department in the last three years:
	
		
			 Financial year Total costs (rounded) Number of SCS voluntary exits Notes 
			 2010-11 £5.471 million 37 As part of efficiency and downsizing a voluntary exit scheme was run on new compensation scheme terms 
			 2011-12 £1.771 million 11 — 
			 2012-13 £1.099 million 5 Figures will be published as part of the annual report and accounts 
			 2013-14 £232,000 2 Details of voluntary exits to date in this financial year 
		
	
	In the period in question no voluntary exits took place from either of the Department's Executive agencies: the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency or Public Health England.
	The Department's non-departmental public bodies include Executive non-departmental public bodies and special health authorities. These bodies are arm's length bodies of the Department and the individuals they employ are not civil servants. No SCS staff were therefore employed directly by these organisations.

Surgery

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the recent study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on the subject of surgeon's performance data, Public reporting of surgeon outcomes: low numbers of procedures lead to false complacency.

Anna Soubry: The publication of surgical performance data by NHS England is designed to assist patients in having an informed conversation with their consultant or general practitioner about a medical procedure they are due to undergo. All individual analyses are supported by narratives explaining how to understand the results.
	It is not a statistical exercise intended to identify poor performers. It is an exercise to provide information on activity and outcomes, support improved treatment and assure the public that the national health service offers high quality surgery.
	There will inevitably be a small number of outliers, which is where the consultant's data is outside an expected range. It is important that the data is reviewed by experts so that the published data are properly understood by all.

Training

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on away days and residential training since May 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The Department is committed to developing its staff and equipping them with the skills and knowledge to carry out their work. Away days, other similar team-based development activities and residential training all make a contribution to such development.
	This type of development activity is typically arranged by individual teams or individuals in the Department. No central records of these events are kept, so to collect this information from the Department's directorates would incur disproportionate costs.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2013, Official Report, columns 595-6W, on asylum; if she will provide the statistics relating to the productivity key performance indicator in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 to date.

Mark Harper: I am sorry that no 'productivity' data was included in the 2011-12 15 KPI report. This was because a suitable method for recording productivity was not agreed in time for publication.
	'Productivity' data will be included in the 2012-13 KPI report, which will be published in August 2013.

Asylum

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, Official Report, columns 595-6W, on asylum, if she will provide the statistics relating to the key performance indicator in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013.

Mark Harper: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer. This provided information relating to the key performance indicators in financial year 2010-11 and 2011-12, with a link to the published statistics. Performance statistics for financial year 2012-13 will be published in August.

Asylum: Newport (Gwent)

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum seekers dispersed to Wales in each of the last five years were dispersed to Newport.

Mark Harper: The following table shows the number of asylum seekers in dispersed accommodation in receipt of section 95 support in Wales as at the end of each quarter since end of June 2008 and the proportion of those that were in Newport at that time. For completeness it also shows the total numbers in receipt of section 95 support in Wales.
	
		
			 Asylum seekers in receipt of section 95 support, as at end of quarter 
			  Total Wales Percentage in Newport 
			 Quarter Total supported under section 95 In receipt of subsistence only In dispersed accommodation Total supported under section 95 In receipt of subsistence only In dispersed accommodation 
			 2008 Q2 1,613 50 1,563 16 12 17 
			 2008 Q3 1,604 47 1,557 15 11 16 
			 2008 Q4 1,692 57 1,635 15 12 15 
			 2009 Q1 1,700 46 1,654 15 13 15 
			 2009 Q2 1,695 29 1,666 14 21 14 
			 2009 Q3 1,717 21 1,696 13 29 13 
			 2009 Q4 1,780 18 1,762 13 28 13 
		
	
	
		
			 2010 Q1 1,740 24 1,716 13 13 13 
			 2010 Q2 1,714 22 1,692 13 14 13 
			 2010 Q3 1,529 16 1,513 10 19 10 
			 2010 Q4 1,437 20 1,417 12 15 12 
			 2011 Q1 1,398 19 1,379 12 16 12 
			 2011 Q2 1,406 16 1,390 13 6 13 
			 2011 Q3 1,462 16 1,446 13 0 13 
			 2011 Q4 1,436 19 1,417 14 42 14 
			 2012 Q1 1,370 20 1,350 14 40 14 
			 2012 Q2 1,305 19 1,286 15 42 14 
			 2012 Q3 1,327 21 1,306 16 43 15 
			 2012 Q4 1,471 15 1,456 16 7 16 
			 2013 Q1 1,517 20 1,497 16 5 16 
			 Notes: 1. The data include dependants in receipt of support. 2. The data excludes unaccompanied asylum seeking children supported by local authorities. 3. The data on asylum seekers in dispersed accommodation excludes those in initial accommodation. 4. Excludes disbenefited cases. 'Disbenefited cases' are cases that were supported under the main UK benefits system and were moved into asylum support. Some of these cases remained in the original social services accommodation while still supported. Since Q2 2010, data on disbenefited cases have not been published. Prior to that there were 0 cases in Wales for the dates given. 
		
	
	The figures for the number of asylum seekers in receipt of section 95 as at the end of each quarter, by local authority, are published as National Statistics in Table as_16_q (Asylum data tables Volume 2) of Immigration Statistics. The latest release Immigration Statistics January-March 2013 is available in the Library of the House and from:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-january-to-march-2013

Entry Clearances

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 4 (General) visas have been issued in each of the past five years for study at a post-16 educational institution in Scotland.

Mark Harper: holding answer 2 July 2013
	The information you have requested is only held at the level of paper case files or within the notes section of the Central Reference System (CRS) database. Such data are not aggregated in national reporting systems and could be provided only through a disproportionately expensive manual case search to collate the figures.
	The Home Office publishes immigration statistics quarterly on both Tier 4 student visas issued and extensions. These can be found at the following website:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/tables-for-immigration-statistics-january-to-march-2013

Illegal Immigrants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by Operation Nexus to date.

Mark Harper: We have removed over 700(1) foreign national offenders under Operation Nexus since it was established in October 2012. The operation provides a joined up response between Home Office immigration enforcement and the Metropolitan police to criminality and offending by foreign nationals in London. We have established a Joint Operation Centre, automated biometric data searches against police and Home Office databases and improved access to international data.
	We continue to work with other police force areas to understand the nature, scale and threat of offending by foreign nationals. This will inform roll out across the UK.
	(1) This is extracted from internal management information and has not been subject to validation as part of national statistics.

Illegal Immigrants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many restaurants were raided by enforcement officers in 2012.

Mark Harper: holding answer 11 July 2013
	Records indicate that between January and December 2012, the Home Office carried out 2,659 enforcement visits to premises identified as restaurants.
	Note:
	All figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Immigration Controls

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Tier 5 sponsors and (b) Tier 4 sponsors had their licences (i) revoked and (ii) suspended in Q1 2013.

Mark Harper: The information requested is as follows:
	In Q1 2013, 15 Tier 5 sponsor licences were revoked and 20 suspended;
	In Q1 2013, 58 Tier 4 sponsor licences were revoked and 67 suspended.
	Notes
	1. Figures for Q1 of 2013cover the period 1 January 2013 to 31 March 2013.
	2. Figures for licences suspended and revoked may include individual sponsors licensed under multiple Tiers.
	3. The figures quoted have been derived from management information. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Immigration Controls

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 2 sponsors had their licences (a) revoked and (b) suspended in Q1 2013.

Mark Harper: In Q1 2013, 126 Tier 2 sponsor licences were revoked and 156 suspended.
	Notes:
	1. Figures for Q1 of 2013 cover the period 1 January 2013 to 31 March 2013.
	2. Figures for licences suspended and revoked may include individual sponsors licensed under multiple Tiers.
	(3) The figures quoted have been derived from management information. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the Minister of State for Immigration to reply to the letter of 18 February 2013 from the hon. Member for Angus regarding her constituent Lance Nicolle, ref M2610/13.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the hon. Member on 8 July 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for West Lancashire will receive a response to her letter, CTS reference: M4151/13; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the hon. Member separately on this individual case on 10 July 2013.
	The delay was due to administrative issues.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to received a reply to his letter of 3 June 2013 to the interim Director General, UK Visas and Immigration, on behalf of a constituent, CTS ref B15451/13.

Mark Harper: UK Visas and Immigration wrote to the hon. Member on 10 July 2013.

Passports: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in Scotland hold a UK passport.

Mark Harper: holding answer 11 July 2013
	This information is not held by Her Majesty's Passport Office in the format requested. An applicant's place of residence is not relevant to consideration of the passport application.
	However, information is available on the address provided at the time of application. 8.44% (442,955) of the total number of persons who applied for a new or renewal passport in the United Kingdom in financial year 2011-12 did so from an address in Scotland. That percentage is broadly in line with the population distribution across the home nations.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Consultants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) she and (b) officials in her Department spent on external assistance to prepare for (i) appearances before select committees and (ii) contact with the media in (A) 2011-12 and (B) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: None.

Food

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of all food procured for her Department was sourced from (a) British producers, (b) small and medium-sized enterprises and (c) producers which met British buying standards in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Duncan: All food used in DFID staff restaurants is procured by MITIE who are the catering providers. From 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 32% of all food purchased was from British producers and 85% was from producers who met British buying standards.

PRIME MINISTER

Burma

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the Government's aim is for the upcoming visit of President Thein Sein to the UK; and what the scope of any discussions that will be held between representatives of the Burmese and British governments during that visit will be;
	(2)  what specific assurances he will be seeking from President Thein Sein regarding the treatment of the Rohingya Muslim community within Burma during his upcoming visit to the UK.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will discuss with President Thein Sein during his visit to the UK the number of remaining political prisoners in Burma and a timetable for their release;
	(2)  if he will discuss with President Thein Sein during his visit to the UK efforts to end the conflicts in Kachin and Rakhine states and the need for full, independent and transparent investigations into the violence;
	(3)  if he will discuss with President Thein Sein the (a) treatment of the Rohingya, (b) need for unimpeded humanitarian access for all internally displaced persons, (c) reports of a two child policy imposed on the Rohingya community and (d) reviewing of the 1982 Citizenship Law; and if he will raise the Human Rights Watch report entitled, All You Can Do is Pray, with the President;
	(4)  if he will discuss the (a) role and accountability of the security forces in Burma, (b) level of sexual violence and (c) possibility of extending the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative to Burma with President Thein Sein during his visit to the UK;
	(5)  if he will discuss with President Thein Sein during his forthcoming visit to the UK (a) the opening of an office for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Burma, (b) signing the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and (c) signing the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

David Cameron: President Thein Sein will visit the UK as a guest of the Government on 15 and 16 July. I will meet him in Downing street.
	This visit will be an opportunity to discuss progress on political and economic reform, including the need for responsible trade and investment. It will also be an opportunity to raise our concerns about Kachin and Rakhine states, as well as human rights and the release of remaining political prisoners.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many answers to parliamentary questions involving tables of statistics fewer than four pages in length were (a) printed in full and (b) provided via a weblink to a website in the last year;
	(2)  what guidance No. 10 Downing street follows in determining whether, when answers to parliamentary questions which include statistics, those statistics are (a) provided in full, (b) provided via a weblink to a website and (c) placed in the Library.

David Cameron: My answers to parliamentary questions are a matter of public record and can be found in the Official Report.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Leader of the House of Commons, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 12 February 2013, Official Report, column 649W.

TRANSPORT

A338

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any pinch point funding is available to assist Bournemouth Borough Council to fund a slip road from the A338.

Norman Baker: Dorset County Council submitted a bid for the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road to the Department for Transport requesting funding from the Local Pinch Point Fund. The Fund was very oversubscribed with the Department for Transport receiving over 170 bids requesting funding is excess of £400 million.
	The Department announced 72 successful schemes, which together offered the best value for the taxpayer. I am afraid the Dorset bid was unsuccessful on this occasion.
	This does not preclude Dorset County Council seeking funding from alternative sources, for example, the Single Local Growth Fund. I would recommend they liaise closely with their Local Transport Body and Local Enterprise Partnership on this matter.

Air Traffic Control

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will meet representatives from National Air Traffic Services to discuss the technical fault that occurred at the Swanwick air traffic control centre on 9 July 2013;
	(2)  if he will investigate the causes of the technical fault that occurred at the Swanwick air traffic control centre on 9 July 2013;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with representatives of the (a) National Air Traffic Services and (b) Civil Aviation Authority on the reliability of the computer system at Swanwick air traffic control centre;
	(4)  what recent representations he has received expressing concern about the computer system at Swanwick air traffic control centre.

Simon Burns: The Government places the highest priority on aviation safety, and I am satisfied that NATS has an excellent safety and performance record achieved through a highly proactive approach to risk management and mitigation in all processes and systems. I am also satisfied that the current legislative and regulatory framework offers robust assurance that those high standards will be maintained. Under this framework, the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) monitors and regulates aviation safety. There is therefore no specific need to meet with NATS at this time.
	On 9 July we understand that a small number of workstations at NATS Swanwick air traffic control centre were affected by a rare and complicated software sequencing error. I have been informed that this did not affect air safety as NATS' operating procedure in such circumstances is to reduce traffic movements so that air traffic controllers are not faced with more flights than they can safely handle. The incident did result in some minor but unavoidable air traffic delays, but in just over two hours the workstations affected were back to full capacity allowing the disruption to passengers and airlines to be kept to a minimum.
	NATS is required to provide a safe and efficient airspace that meets the requirements set by its air traffic licence and by the CAA. The CAA is aware of the incident at Swanwick on 9 July and is already in discussions with NATS regarding NATS' ongoing investigations. In light of NATS' internal investigation, and any further investigation the CAA might require, the CAA will take any appropriate action it deems necessary. The CAA will also advise me if there was any risk to either aviation safety or to the continuity of UK air traffic services arising from the incident.
	I have had no recent discussions with NATS or the CAA, or received any representations, concerning the reliability of the computer systems at Swanwick. I am aware that the safety and efficiency of those systems are constantly monitored and I am confident that any serious problem would be brought to my attention.

Boating: Safety

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make it mandatory for drivers of powerboats to wear killcords.

Stephen Hammond: We are not pursuing legislation to make the wearing of kill cords mandatory.
	In the majority of cases powerboats are used close to shore where Harbour Directions, Byelaws and General Directions are applied to enforce behavioural standards which, combined with the effective application of locally devised sanctions, are the most effective way of ensuring the use of kill cords.
	However, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in association with the police, Royal Yacht Association and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute work closely to promote maritime safety, including the importance of wearing a kill cord.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are employed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in dealing with requests for information from private car parking companies.

Stephen Hammond: Information about the registered keepers of vehicles can be released to private car parking management companies if they can demonstrate reasonable cause for requiring it.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has had to correct information given in response to freedom of information requests (FoIRs) related to private car parking companies; and on which occasions the Information Commissioner's Office has investigated information provided by the DVLA in response to FoIRs.

Stephen Hammond: Statistics showing how many freedom of information request responses have been corrected by the DVLA are not recorded. Although these occurrences are very rare.
	Since the Freedom of Information Act came into force on 1 January 2005, the DVLA has answered over 3,500 requests. The Information Commissioner's Office has issued 15 decision notices to resolve complaints about the way the DVLA has answered a freedom of information request. The details are on the Information Commissioner's Office website. The Information Commissioner's Office investigated a further seven complaints that were resolved informally. None of these cases related to private car parking companies.

Electric Vehicles

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to protect blind and partially sighted pedestrians from quiet and hybrid vehicles;
	(2)  if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure a minimum noise level for all vehicles;
	(3)  if he will take steps so that it is mandatory for car manufacturers to install an alert system in all hybrid and electric vehicles;

Norman Baker: Negotiations are ongoing at EU level on a new regulation for road vehicle noise, and this includes proposals for noise generators to be fitted to all new electric and hybrid-electric vehicles. Once the negotiations are concluded I will consider how to implement the requirements in the UK.

Food

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of all food procured for their Department was sourced from (a) British producers, (b) small and medium-sized enterprises and (c) producers which met British buying standards in the latest period for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: I regret that this information is not centrally recorded in all areas of this Department, and so no meaningful figure is available.

Pedestrian Crossings

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on how many pelican crossings and puffin crossings there are on roads in England and Wales.

Norman Baker: This information is not held centrally. Installation of traffic lights, including pelican and puffin crossings, is the responsibility of local traffic authorities.

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior civil servants left his Department and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was.

Norman Baker: The information requested is provided in the following table. Where numbers are five or less, we have withheld the precise number on grounds of confidentiality in line with the Data Protection Act.
	
		
			  Number left under voluntary exit Value of payments (£) 
			 2010-11 25 2,973,138 
			 2011-12 10 640,475 
			 2012-13 <5 448,112 
		
	
	The figures for 2010-11 and 2011-12 include voluntary exits following the Department's change programme.

Transport

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made on developing a national transport strategy.

Norman Baker: The Secretary of State is considering the scope and timing of this publication in light of the recent Spending Round.

Transport

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to encourage work between local enterprise partnerships, local transport boards and transport authorities on cross-border transport issues.

Norman Baker: We have always encouraged the relevant local decision making bodies to work collaboratively across boundaries with their neighbours on transport issues of mutual interest. This is expressly encouraged in the Departmental guidance on the devolution of major transport schemes. It is for the local bodies themselves to determine precisely how they do this.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency: Driving Standards Agency

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to (a) locate services from the merged Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and Driving Standards Agency in shared premises and (b) re-establish test centres instead of using private commercial properties.

Stephen Hammond: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and Driving Standards Agency (DSA) already share some estate. There are no immediate plans to change the existing service provision as a result of the move to a single agency. This maintains a continuing commitment to the VOSA testing transformation strategy and DSA's piloting of taking testing to the customer. There will be a review of how best to deliver services as a single agency, in line with the commitment to put customers at the heart of our motoring services made in the Motoring Services Strategy.

TREASURY

Barclays

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for International Development, (b) the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and (c) representatives of Barclays bank on that bank's decision to suspend money transfer services; and what his policy is on that matter.

Sajid Javid: The Government is committed to supporting a healthy and legitimate remittance sector, and ensuring that UK citizens are able to continue to remit funds safely to family abroad. Work has been under way for some time, with HMRC and the Financial Conduct Authority as regulators, and the Serious Organised Crime Agency, on addressing and reducing risk in this area. This has, and continues to, include discussions between HM Treasury, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Department for International Development.

Business: Financial Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on small businesses of the decision by Barclays bank to stop providing money transfer companies with banking services; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The Government is continuing to monitor the effect on the market, including small businesses, of decisions by banks to limit the provision of banking services to the remittance sector. It is still too early to assess the impact on these businesses of the recent decision taken by Barclays, but the Government is working with regulators, banks and businesses themselves, to explore viable alternative options for these firms.

Double Taxation

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many applications have been made for an HM Revenue and Customs Residency Certificate in each of the last five tax years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what comparative assessment he has made of the processing time for an HM Revenue and Customs Residency Certificate and equivalent times in other EU countries;
	(3)  what the average waiting time was for receiving an HM Revenue and Customs Residency Certificate in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(4)  what the target waiting time was for receiving an HM Revenue and Customs Residency Certificate in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

David Gauke: Requests for residence certificates are usually received by post and, as such, fall within Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs normal post turn around targets. These are to process 80% of post items within 15 working days and 95% within 40 working days. No separate record is kept of the numbers of applications, processing or turn around times for residence certificates by individuals, companies or other persons.
	Since 2011 individuals have been able to apply for a residence certificate online.

Infrastructure: Scotland

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Finance Minister about money allocated to infrastructure projects in Scotland on which work is ready to begin; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with the Scottish Government on a wide variety of topics.

Revenue and Customs

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 17 January 2013, Official Report, column 924W, on Revenue and Customs, how many full-time equivalent posts there were in each area of HM Revenue and Customs' activity on 31 March in each year since 2009.

David Gauke: The full-time equivalent posts (FTE) for each area of HMRC since 2009 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  As at 31 March each year 
			 Line of business 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
			 Benefits and Credits 6,572.13 6,307.29 5,833.54 5,300.72 5,156.71 
			 Business Tax 3,870.02 3,775.78 3,876.89 3,694.71 3,409.72 
			 Enforcement and Compliance 32,243.85 26,863.81 25,475.26 25,334.34 26,601.02 
			 Personal Tax 31,009.83 27,307.41 25,794.5 26,858.43 24,443.84 
			 Corporate Services 7,464.06 6,445.35 5,900.7 5,278.64 4,865.07 
			 HMRC 81,159.89 70,699.64 66,880.89 66,466.84 64,476.36 
		
	
	In 2009-10 approximately 4,300 FTE Enforcement and Compliance staff transferred out of HMRC to UKBA.

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many senior civil servants left his Department and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was.

Sajid Javid: The information is as follows.
	
		
			 Leavers under voluntary exit schemes 
			 HM Treasury, Debt Management Office, Office for Budget Responsibility Number 
			 As at 1 April to 31 March each year  
			 2010-11 (1)— 
			 2011-12 (1)— 
			 2012-13 (1)— 
			 (1) Fewer than 5 
		
	
	Please note numbers for HM Treasury, Debt Management Office, and Office for Budget Responsibility have been combined—we do not give details where they amount to less than five as there is a risk that individuals may be identified.
	From 2010-11, Government Departments are required to report the use of exit packages in their resource accounts. Details of payments for 2010-11 and 2011-12 can be found in HM Treasury's annual report and accounts for 2011-12 page 82 table 7d.The resource accounts for 2012-13 are due to be published in the next few days.
	The civil service compensation scheme was reformed in 2010. Under the previous terms there could be costs extending for up to 10 years from a departure while under the reformed scheme all of the costs fall within the year of departure. The NAO have estimated that under the reformed scheme, exits cost around 40-50% less than the previous compensation scheme in place before the general election. In addition the reformed scheme allows for greater distinction between voluntary and compulsory exits and is designed to encourage voluntary rather than compulsory departures.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Agriculture: Industrial Health and Safety

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve health and safety in agriculture and (b) ensure the safest possible conditions for agricultural workers; and what measures his Department has introduced to improve worker safety in UK agriculture since 2010.

Mark Hoban: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recognises agriculture as a priority industry due to the continuing high rate of fatalities. In May 2008, the HSE Board agreed to a refreshed programme of work to bring about measurable and sustainable changes to the industry's health and safety performance.
	The programme includes a range of approaches including the delivery of free Safety and Health Awareness Days for farmers. These events are a proven, trusted and well received mechanism for promoting awareness and understanding of the risks and control measures in the industry.
	Following HSE engagement, key industry stakeholders have set up a number of industry-led safety partnerships such as the Farm Safety Partnership, the On Farm Charter (Wales) and the Forestry Industry Safety Accord. These partnerships provide a vehicle for the industry to take responsibility for the industry's poor performance and provide leadership in tackling it and challenging traditional attitudes to risk in the industry. HSE provides legal and technical support and health and safety guidance to these groups and facilitates the sharing of good practice and lessons learned from previous initiatives.
	Additionally since 2010, HSE has introduced a number of other measures to improve worker safety, including:
	Work to improve the design of plant and machinery and to improve the information provided through the supply chain to users.
	An initiative to ensure that health and safety is embedded in land- based training syllabi in future.
	A programme of targeted inspection in the fresh produce growing and processing sectors.
	Commissioning research to inform future policy and work on emerging issues such as the influence of gypsum in animal slurry systems on the generation of hydrogen sulphide (slurry gas).
	A comprehensive review and revision of all its agriculture guidance to ensure health and safety advice and guidance is disseminated to the industry effectively, in particular to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what proportion of work-related support group decisions for employment and support allowance were successfully appealed against in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of work-related activity group decisions for employment and support allowance ended in appeal in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: This information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Employment Schemes: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support is available in Barnsley Central constituency to help people with learning disabilities into work.

Esther McVey: There is a wide range of support available to help people with learning disabilities into work in Barnsley Central.
	Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentre Plus will give ongoing support to people with learning disabilities and help them access appropriate sources of help.
	This support includes national programmes funded by the Department for Work and Pensions including:
	‘The Work Programme’ (provided in Barnsley mainly by A4E and SERCO), ‘Work Choice’ (provided by Remploy and Shaw Trust) and ‘Access to Work’.
	The ‘Right to Control’ initiative is being piloted in Barnsley where customers can elect to have their own personal budget to buy suitable support.
	Also in the local area support includes:
	‘MENCAP’ for example provide a Work Club for people with learning disabilities, offering employability skills training, on-going job search support and sourcing work placements.
	‘Positive Steps’, offered through Interserve who run employability skills training, including an eight week programme to support individuals with learning disabilities who are on the autistic spectrum to find sustained employment.
	Barnsley College, Northern College and Dearne Valley College all run a variety of courses which are tailored to the needs of people with learning disabilities.

Independent Living Fund

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to replace the Independent Living Fund in 2015.

Esther McVey: Following the closure of the Independent Living Fund on 31 March 2015, sole responsibility for its users' support needs will transfer from my Department to local government in England and to the devolved Administrations. It will be for the devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales to decide how best to support former Independent Living Fund users within their distinctive adult social care systems.

Motability

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will take steps to prevent Motability from repossessing cars and other equipment from disabled claimants whose benefits assessments are currently undergoing an appeal;
	(2)  if he will increase links between his Department's Benefits Team and Motability to prevent claimants losing their scheme support until any benefits assessment dispute has been resolved.

Esther McVey: The Motability Scheme leases cars, powered wheelchairs and scooters to disabled people who choose to use their higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance or personal independence payment for this purpose.
	Motability is an independent charitable organisation wholly responsible for the administration of the scheme; it is therefore for Motability to decide on their policies in relation to vehicle recovery.
	From October, anyone in receipt of disability living allowance who reports a change in their needs will be asked to claim personal independence payment. All existing disability living allowance claimants who claim personal independence payment and comply with the processes will continue to be paid their disability living allowance for a minimum of four weeks following the decision on their personal independence claim. This includes claimants who have an existing Motability agreement, whether or not entitlement to the enhanced rate of the mobility component of personal independence payment has been awarded.
	Where an existing Motability user is not awarded the enhanced rate of the mobility component of personal independence payment it is Motability's policy to allow a period of up to 28 days after the payment of disability living allowance has stopped to return the car.
	Both these arrangements effectively give Motability users up to 56 days to return their vehicle and make other arrangements.
	We have no plans to continue to pay the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance or personal independence payment where no entitlement to either of these components has been established.

Social Fund: Funerals

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund budgeting loan applications to pay for funeral expenses have been (a) received and (b) awarded; and what the total cost of the awards was in each month since May 2012.

Steve Webb: DWP does not hold information on the reasons why budgeting loans were requested. Consequently, it is not possible to provide statistics on the number of budgeting loans that were taken out to contribute to funeral costs. The only figures available are for applications made directly to the Social Fund's funeral payment scheme.
	Table 1 provides the number of funeral payment applications received, awards made and total expenditure made monthly between May 2012 and June 2013 inclusive.
	
		
			 Table 1: Funeral payment applications, awards and expenditure between May 2012 and June 2013 
			  Applications Awards Expenditure (£) 
			 May 2012 5,580 2,770 3,404,300 
			 June 2012 6,300 3,300 4,051,500 
			 July 2012 5,250 2,910 3,601,000 
			 August 2012 5,460 3,010 3,774,500 
		
	
	
		
			 September 2012 5,480 3,020 3,796,700 
			 October 2012 4,890 2,640 3,315,000 
			 November 2012 5,260 2,990 3,745,000 
			 December 2012 5,230 2,830 3,467,100 
			 January 2013 4,180 2,320 2,246,700 
			 February 2013 6,980 3,570 4,375,400 
			 March 2013 5,770 2,840 3,565,100 
			 April 2013 5,240 2,980 3,733,900 
			 May 2013 5,130 2,480 3,155,300 
			 June 2013 5,250 3,060 4,077,700 
			 Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, these amounts do not include expenditure on applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund computer system. 2. Application and award volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. All expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest £100. Source: DWP Policy, Budget and Management Information System

State Retirement Pensions

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the revenue raised as a result of the cessation of contracted out pensions and increase in national insurance contributions.

Steve Webb: This information is set out in Table 6.1 of the Single Tier impact assessment, published in May 2013 available on the Gov.uk website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/197841/single-tier-ia-april-2013.pdf

State Retirement Pensions

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women born between 1951 and 1953 who will be at a financial disadvantage as a result of the implementation of the single tier pensions scheme.

Steve Webb: Men born on or after 6 April 1951, and women born on or after 6 April 1953 will be eligible for a single-tier pension, subject to meeting the minimum qualifying period. Analysis of the financial impact of the single-tier pension is presented in the impact assessment, available on the GOV.uk website at
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/197841/single-tier-ia-april-2013.pdf
	Women born before 6 April 1953 will reach state pension age before the implementation of the single-tier pension and will receive their state pension in line with the current system rules. The Government has published an analysis of the state pension outcomes of the cohort of women born between 6 April 1951 and 5 April 1953 on the GOV.uk website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-single-tier-pension-note-on-the-cohort-of-women-born-between-6-april-1951-and-5-april-1953

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of the single tier pension scheme on women born between 1951 and 1953.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (Gregg McClymont) on 13 May 2013, Official Report, columns 68-69W.

Universal Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the caseload figures for the universal credit pathfinder.

Mark Hoban: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I provided him with on 25 June 2013, Official Report, column 250W and 6 June 2013, Official Report, column 1253W. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. We intend to publish Official Statistics on pathfinder areas in autumn 2013.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to improve the effectiveness of the Work Programme in helping those aged over 50 years into employment.

Mark Hoban: I have set up the ‘Work Programme: Building Best Practice Group’ to help organisations delivering the Work programme to find the best ways to support the harder to help. The Best Practice Group will develop a framework so they can all benefit from as much expertise as possible; the group is chaired independently by Andrew Sells.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: Loans

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) Barnsley, (c) South Yorkshire and (d) England received Enterprise Finance Guarantee loans from the Government between (i) May 2011 and May 2012 and (ii) May 2012 and May 2013; and what the total value of the loans guaranteed was in each case.

Michael Fallon: Enterprise Finance Guarantee loans are provided by participating banks with the support of the Government guarantee.
	The following table details the volume and value of EFG loans provided to businesses and includes loan offers and actual loans drawn down.
	
		
			  May 2011-May 2012 May 2012-May 2013  
			  Offered Drawn Offered Drawn  
			  Volume £ million Volume £ million Volume £ million Volume £ million Total (£ million) 
			 Barnsley Central 5 0.2 3 0.1 11 1.2 6 0.9 1 
			 Barnsley 12 0.7 7 0.6 22 2.1 20 2.2 2.8 
			 South Yorkshire 86 7 78 6.8 103 6.3 94 5.8 12.6 
			 England 2,952 306.9 2,610 262.6 2,978 312 2,536 265.7 528.3

Economic and Social Research Council: Scotland

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what grants have been awarded and to whom as part of the Economic and Social Research Council research programme into pre and post referendum investment; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: No grants have yet been awarded as part of the Economic and Social Research Councils (ESRC's) pre and post referendum investment. The ESRC is in the process of commissioning this research and is at contract negotiation stage. Hence, awards have yet to be publicly announced.
	Further details of the investment specification for this call can be found at:
	http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/24735/latest-opportunity-15.aspx
	It is hoped that this investment will be launched in September 2013, at which point full details will be made available on the ESRC website.
	Information on ESRC-funded grants can be found via the Research Catalogue, which also includes details of over 100,000 research outputs arising from ESRC funding. The catalogue can be browsed by grantholder, year, output type, subject area and keyword:
	http://www.esrc.ac.uk/impacts-and-findings/research-catalogue/

Economic and Social Research Council: Scotland

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  to whom grants have been awarded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of their research programme into the future of the UK and Scotland; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what grants have been awarded by the Economic and Social Research Council to undertake research work into the future of the UK and Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Economic and Social Research Councils (ESRCs) Future of the UK and Scotland programme of activities will aim to both inform the debate in the run-up to the referendum and assist in planning across a wide range of areas which will be affected by the outcome of the vote—whether for Scottish independence or the Union.
	In addition to providing grants for the Senior Fellowships, details of which are provided in response to 2013/823, the ESRC invited its major research and resource investments to bid for additional funding (paid as a supplement to existing grants) for new work. The successful projects are listed in the following table. Further information on all these projects is available on the ESRC website at:
	http://www.esrc.ac.uk/impacts-and-findings/our-research/future-of-uk-and-scotland/investments.aspx
	
		
			 Centre PI Name Project PI Current ESRC investment UK/Scotland project £ 80% FEC Start date End date 
			 Professor Ken Mayhew Professor Ken Mayhew ESRC Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE) Skills, policies and labour market interventions 135,512.80 7 January 2013 6 January 2014 
			 Professor John Van Reenen Professor Stephen Machin Centre for Economic Performance 2010-2015 Comparative review of education in the UK nations 34,842.40 1 October 2012 1March 2013 
			 Professor Richard Blundell Dr Paul Johnson Centre for Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy (IFS) fiscal and micro-economic issues relevant to Scotland 170,705.37 1 December 2012 30 November 2012 
			 Professor Jane Falkingham Professor Allan Findlay Centre for Population Change International and internal migration to Scotland 148,422.40 1 January 2013 31 December 2013 
			 Professor David Wield Dr James Mittra ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics (Innogen) Institutions and dynamics of Scottish innovation 121,440.80 1 January 2013 31 December 2013 
		
	
	
		
			 Professor David Wield Professor David Castle ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics (Innogen) Devolved health services 94,189.60 1 January 2013 31 December 2013 
			 Professor Michael Keith Professor Martin Ruhs Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) Migration issues in Scotland 155,434.40 1 January 2013 31 December 2013 
			 Professor Susan McVie Professor. Lindsay Paterson (Scotcen) Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN) in Scotland Public attitudes to Scotland's constitutional future 158,117.60 1 January 2013 31 December 2013 
			 Professor Susan McVie Professor. Lindsay Paterson (Young People) Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN) in Scotland Attitudes towards independence of young people living in Scotland 146,453.60 1 January 2013 31 December 2013 
			 Professor Susan McVie Professor. Lindsay Paterson (Social Media) Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN) in Scotland To create and archive data on public debates on Scottish independence 103,508.00 1 March 2013 28 February 2014 
		
	
	A grant has been provided to support a project co-ordinator for the Future of UK and Scotland initiative. Following a competitive process, this was awarded to Professor Charlie Jeffery. The grant value is £233,327 (80% FEC), and runs for the period 1 April 2013-31 March 2015.
	Two enhancements to existing surveys have also been made under the initiative—the first to the British Election Study Internet Panel Survey (£498,491, 1 August 2013 to 30 November 2017) and the second to the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen) to support the addition of 40 new questions on political attitudes to independence and the Union to the 2012 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey (£49,740, 15 August 2012 to 14 February 2014).
	Information on ESRC-funded grants can be found via the Research Catalogue, which also includes details of over 100,000 research outputs arising from ESRC funding. The catalogue can be browsed by grantholder, year, output type, subject area and keyword:
	http://www.esrc.ac.uk/impacts-and-findings/research-catalogue/

EU External Trade: USA

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the EU-US trade deal excludes arrangements for health care.

Michael Fallon: HMG continues to consider carefully all potential impacts and implications to ensure that national interests, including those related to health care, are protected. This will be the case within the EU-US trade negotiations which started in the week commencing 8 July. The UK has already undertaken some long-standing commitments at the multilateral level in terms of access to the health sector through the General Agreement in Trade in Services (GATS, 1995). The European Commission regularly consults EU member states both in writing and orally on all elements of trade negotiations. Furthermore, UK consent will be required on the final package.

Food

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of all food procured for his Department was sourced from (a) British producers, (b) small and medium-sized enterprises and (c) producers which met British buying standards in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jo Swinson: The Department's catering and conference services are contracted to Baxter Storey who source the food used.
	Currently 85% of food procured is sourced from British producers. 73% of food procured is sourced from small and medium-sized enterprises. 100% of food procured is sourced from producers which met British buying standards.

Retail Trade: Empty Property

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage owners of derelict or mothballed retail sites to (a) redevelop them and (b) bring them back into retail use.

Michael Fallon: We recognise the importance of vibrant high streets and town centres and have encouraged increased flexibility to open up options to landlords and perspective tenants; changes to planning rules mean that it is now easier to change the use of buildings to support our high streets, businesses, and increase opportunities for housing.
	We are supporting those looking for premises to try out new business ideas which will play a part in supporting our economic recovery. These changes mean people can bring empty properties on the high street back into use for a wide range of new uses.
	In addition, we have doubled small business rate relief and extended it for another year—half a million SMEs are expected to benefit. We have also given councils a financial incentive to support high streets. These changes will help town centre landlords make better use of their empty properties, get more start-up businesses set up in the high street, and see a third of a million small businesses paying no rates at all. Empty (non industrial) commercial property is subject to business rates after three months (six months for industrial).
	Last year we also increased the permitted development for flats above shops.
	Finally, the Future High Streets Forum has been established which brings together leaders across retail, property, business, academics, third sector, civil society and government to better understand the competition town centres across the country face and to drive forward new ideas and policies to help revive the high street.

Space

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made on (a) development and (b) implementation of the UK's space security policy.

David Willetts: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 22 January 2013, Official Report, column 136W. This still stands.